Motion-picture machine.



MOIION PICIURE MACHINE.

"wanton mm Ill! 2a. 1911.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

. soon as the a burning the lights oil the head or'film lowing description and Morton-morons MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Application fled June 88, 1911. Serial Io. 176,741..

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, DAVID P. Donn, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Fort Worth, in the county of .Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion-Picture Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to improvements in motion picture machines and more particularly to means for automatically shutting operating part of the machine; and the object is to provide a simple mechanism for cutting oil the light from the head of the machine in case of accidenhas when the film breaks. It is well known that when a film breaks it is very frerl uently ignited immediately by the strong ight which is coming from the lamp. I have provided means for intercepting the li ht beams automatically as fil m breaks and thus prevent of the film. The same device will cut oil the light whenever the machine stops. The advantages are that the danger of a eonflagration is avoided and theburn- .ing of the film is prevented. The burning uces a dense black smoke and'a deadly poisonous gas. All of such consequences are avoided by a simple ine'ii'pensive apparatus. Other'objects and advantages Wll be fully explained in the folthe invention will particularly pointed out in the of the film prod more claim.

Reference is bad to the accompanyingdrawin'gs which form a part of this apphcation. f'

v tional elevation.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a motion picture machine with a part of the frame of the head shown in section. Fig. 2 is at portion of the film side of the machine shown in sectional elevation. Fig. 3 isa portion of the governor side of the machi compared with Fig. 1 shown in broken see- Fig. 4 is. a detail side view of the film gate or aperture age. Fig; 5 is a face viewof the same. i dis a detail view of the shutter mounted on the cone of the lamp for cutting oil the light. Fig. '7 is a detail view of theelectrical devices for breaking the circuit to stop the motpr in case of accident.

Sim lar characters of reference are used which will then .1s connected to indicate the several views.

For the purpose of illustrating the inventlon, a machine, such as isiin ordinary use, is shown, but it must be understood that the apparatus is adaptable to machines of diiferenttypes.

The lamp house 1 is shown with the usual cone 2 on which the shutter 3 is pivo'tally provide means for supporting the shutter 3 in position to drop of ts own weight when the support is removed. An electro-magnet 4 is mounted onand insulated from the cone 2 and provided with an armature 5 which supports the shutter 3. When the magnet 4 is energized, the armature 5 will be drawn. from under the shutter 3 immediately 'fall. Means are provided for directing a current of electricity through the magnet 4. A transformer 6 is shown connected with a source of electricity for reducing the current to a out the capacity of one dry cell battery. It is ap arent that a dry-cell battery .would accomp ml: the same purpose. On wire 7 is connected to the transformer 6 and to the magnet 4. Another wire 8 is connected to the) other pole of the transformer and runs through the lower part of the head and to an insulated plate 9 and then continued onto and connected to a doubled sprin 10 which is insulated from thewby a p ate 11 and a plate 12, the spring It) being clampe between the two insulation plates 11 and 12 by screws 13 which ah used to hold a steel plate 15 which bears a inst the film 14. The insulation plate 1 gate and secured in place by a bar 16 and same parts throughout the screws 17, an opening being made through the plate 11 for the operation of the springs 1 The springs 10 bear against a steel late'18 which is a guide for holding the in straight or flat as the film is casing the gate. It is'shown how the springs 10 are insulated from the machine on one side.

The film 14 forms the insulation on the other plate 18,

is extended down below the a n th frame is metal. The arm 20 isadapted to drop on the plate 9 should the film break. Normally the film will hold the arm 20 out of electrical connection with the plate 9. The wire 8 is further extended and connected to an insulated plate 23 which is mounted on the opposite or mechanical side of the machine. A lever 24 is pivotally connected to the governor 25 and fulcrumed on the side of the machine. When the machine stops and the governor 25 drops, moving downwardly on the shaft 40, this will cause the lever 24 to make electrical connection with the plate 23. The governor 25 and the lever 24 are electrically grounded on the machine frame. The lamp house 1 and the machine head are electrically connected by the metallic frame piece. 26. The electrical connection between the machine head 39 and the lamp house may be made in any other suitable manner.

The film comes in the head 39 between the rollers 28 at the upper part of the machine head and goes out between the rollers 27 at the lower part of the head. In case of a break in the film, the circuit would be closed by the plate 18 coming in. contact with the plate 19 or between the arm 20 and plate 9' because the arm 20 would fall on the plate 9 in case of his would close the. circuit and energize the magnet 4 and then close the shutter 3; When-the shutter falls, it will come to-rest against a stop 29 for shutting ofi the light from the machine head. In case the machine should stop, the governor 25 will drop and cause the lever 24 to make electrical connection with the plate 23. This will also close the circuit and energize the magnet 4 which operation would cause the shutter 3 to dro and shut ofi the light iromthe machine cad. Shutting ofi e light will prevent the film from igniting. When the shutter 3 falls the-circuit is broken." The shutter must be resting on the armature 5 to, make it possible to close. the circuit in the manner above described. I i

The above mentioned "mprovements be used on motion picture machines whic are equipped with fire prevention attachments wit out interference with any attachments already on the machines or they can be used on machines which have no fire prevention attachments.

Provision is also made to stop the motor in case of accident. For this Surpose a make and break contact is provi ed in the wire for the motor. A plate 82 is I p d on and insulated from the cone 2. A. 85 is made rigid with the plate 82 and an arm 88 is pivotally mouptedfia plate 32 which ma he por' m nam a n: ad pted thematic This arm-333c the path oftho shut s that ing a break of the film 14.

when the shutter falls, the arm 33 will be moved by the shutter and the la 34 will leave the 0st 35, thus breaking t e motor current. he motor current wire is intercepted and one end 30 is connected to the arm 33 and the other arm 31 is connected to the post 35 so that when the arm 33 is moved and the lug 34 moved away from the post 35, the current will be broken so that the motor will stop. When the shutter 3 is raised the arm 33 will be restored to brin the lug 34 in contact with the post 35. 1% spring 37 isattached to the arm 33 and to the Host or lug 36 so that the spring ,will ex: pan and throw the' arm 33 to normal position.

What I claim,.is,--

1. In a motion picture machine provided with a film operating motor and a circuit therefor and an electric lamp and a housing therefor, safety attachments for said machine comprising a gravity-closing shutter pivotally mounted on said lamp house, an electro-magnet, an armature therefor supporting said shutter, a wire connecting one pole of said magnet with a supply source of e ectricity, one' ole of said magnet begrounded on t e machine frame, contacts mounted on and insulated from said machine frame, a wire connected to said source of electricity and to said contacts, and means on said machine frame for automatically grounding one of said contacts with the machine frame including parallel guide plates for the film one of which is electrically connected to the machine frame and the other electrically connected to a suppl source of electricity and normally held insulated from the first main guideplate by the film and adapted to contact therewith when the film breaks, whereb said ma et is energized and said shutter 18 dropp to out of the light.

2. n a motion picture machine provided with a film-operating motor and a circuit therefor and an electric, lamp and a housing therefor, safety attaclunents for. said machine comprising a gravity-closing shutter pivotally mounted on said lamp house, fin.

electro-mag'net mounted on said lamp house and an armature therefor supportin said shutter, one pole of said magnet ing grounded with said machine frame and a wire connecting-the other pole of said mag net with a supply source of electricity, contacts onsaid machine frame and a wire connesting. said contacts to said source; :of'

electricity; and means for automatically grounding one of said contacts with the machine frame should the film break includin parallel, guide plates one of which is un ed. on the machine frame-and the. ot ernormally held insulated therefrom by the film and adapted to contact therewith and slee trxcally connected to a supply source of chine comprising a electricity whereby said magnet will be energized and said shutter dropped.

In a motion picture machine provided with a film-operating motor and a circuit therefor and an electric lamp and a housing therefor, safety attachments for said magravity closing shutter pivotally mounted on said lamp house, an electro-magnet mounted on said house and an armature therefor supporting said shutter, one pole of said magnet belng grounded with the machine frame and a wire connecting the other pole of the magnet to a supply source of electricity, contacts on the machine frame and a wire adapted to connect said contacts to said source of electricity, means for automatically grounding one of said contacts with the machine frame should the film break including guide-plates for the film one 0 which is grounded on a machine frame and the other electrically connected to a supply source of electricity and movable and normally insulated from the grounded plate by the film and springs for pressing said movable plate against said grounded plate should the film break whereby said magnet is energized and said shutter is dropped to cut off the light, and means actuated by the shutter when falling for breaking said motor circuit.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand this 17 day of April, 1917.

DAVID P. DODD.

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